MAJOR concerns have been flagged up about security at City Hall, which is on high alert for terror attacks.

A decision to move the district's register office into the landmark building has compromised security levels, a scrutiny meeting heard.

The new register office was opened on the ground floor of City Hall in October.

But Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) said some councillors had raised concerns that members of the public visiting the register office could now be found "wandering around City Hall", and even getting into its Council Chamber.

He said: "On one occasion, I came to City Hall on business on a Saturday and there was a wedding party which should have been in the register office but were actually in the Chamber, because some of the kids were bouncing about on some of the seats."

Cllr Warburton, who was standing in on council's corporate overview and scrutiny committee on behalf of a colleague, told the meeting that he didn't have a problem with the public coming in to use the register office, or even being shown around City Hall.

He said: "However, there seems to be no control on how they can wander in and out, especially when we have gone to a high-risk security alert and we have got an open door policy."

The UK's terror alert status was raised to 'severe' in August, meaning a terrorist attack is highly likely.

The status was raised in response to the rise of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and in particular concerns over fighters from the UK who could plan attacks on their return.

At City Hall, posters are displayed at each entrance reminding people that it is on high alert.

Council officers told the meeting that wedding parties were invited to have photographs taken on City Hall's main staircase, but that this should be overseen by staff.

They added that extra locks had been fitted on doors around the building, to restrict public access to some areas.

But they said they would report Cllr Warburton's concerns to the relevant people to see if anything more needed to be done.

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